Easel



July 16, 1929. H. M. MOSES 1.720.684

EASEL Filed Aug. 20, 1927 As fiz/emzgr v Patented July 16, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,720,684 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY M. MOSES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TOTHE STEINAU COMPANY, A PARTNERSHIP CONSISTING OF LESLIE S. STEINAU ANDNORVIN J. STEINAU, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

EASEL.

Application filed August 20, 1927. Serial No. 214,336.

This invention relates to easels, and more particularly to a plateadapted to be applied to backs of signs, show-cards, pictures and thelike, for the purpose of supporting the same in upright or inclinedposition inwindows and on counters or tables.

The purpose of the invention is to provide an easel-like support whichis capable of ready and secure attachment to the back of a display orother self-supporting sign and possessing other advantages such ascheapness in manufacture and the capacity to lie flat against the backof the sign during shipment.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the accompanyingdrawing in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sign showing theeasel attached to the back thereof.

Figure 2 is a view in cross-section as taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the easel plate prior to attachment toa sign.

The sign A herein disclosed is typical of the character of display cardsor signs equipped with easels, the same being preferably made ofrelatively thick cardboard or a stiff composition board. The easel Bconsists of a metal plate stamped in one operation from a suitable gradeof thin metal. In the preferred form of easel, the plate is rectangularin shape, its length being substantially equal to the width or verticaldimension of the sign. Extending lengthwise of the plate is a centraltongue 1 formed by cutting or punching a U-shaped kerf 2 directed towardone end of the plate, with its unsevered side spaced from the adjacentend edge to form a top marginal band 3. The tongue 1 is also surroundedon its three severed sides by two side strips 4 and a bottom strip 5forming a U-shaped member which serves as the leg or brace when theeasel is in supporting position. Along the top marginal strip are twotransverse rows of prongs 6, these being triangularly shaped bits of themetal which are punched out of the plate and bent at right angles to theback of the plate, the prongs being formed in the same punchingoperation which cuts out the central tongue. A series of similar prongs7 are likewise formed in the central tongue, these prongs beingdistributed throughout the entire area of the tongue in any suitablearrangement, and the number being determined by the dimensions. Theprongs are relatively short, not over of an inch and have sharp points.

The easel plates are applied to the back of the signs in any suitablemanner, preferably by feeding the signs to a punch press, although anypressure applying means can be used for driving the prongs into the backof the sign, the same being of a material soft enough, to allow theprongs to sink in without bending, but of ample toughness to hold themfast. The easels having been applied, it is only necessary for the userto bend the free portion of the plate outwardly to the desired angle tothe back to form the supporting brace for the sign.

The merit of the easel plates herein disclosed resides in the simplicityof construction and the ease with which they may be applied, andfurther, in the fact that when initially applied they lie fiatwiseagainst the sign without projections such as screw heads, hinges andlike parts found in the usual forms of metal or cardboard easelscommonly employed for this purpose.

This feature is a particularly important one from the standpoint of themanufacture as it makes for ease and economy in shipment, inasmuch asthe signs can be packed flat thus occupying less space and requiringless care in separating the signs to prevent ma-rring of the faces.Furthermore, the prongs provide a permanent fastening for the easelsmuch more so than glue or other adhesive and far less expensive to applythan glue, screws or other fastening means.

And finally, the platesbeing of one piece metal, there are no parts thatcan break or become displaced in shipment or during the life of thesign.

Manifestly the precise form of the plate may be altered withoutsacrificing its advantageous features. For instance, the central tongue2 may form the braceand thus bend outwardly, in which case the prongswould be formed in the surrounding strips,the reverse of the formdisclosed. Again, it would be practical to omit the central tongueentirely, although its presence is desirable since it prevents the upperrows of prongs 6 from being loosened in the act of bending the freeportion outwardly into supporting position. Andfinally, the shape andproportions of the plate may be varied for different sizes of signs,since generally speaking the length of the supporting leg must increasewith the height of the sign. For these reasons, I do not Wish to belimited to the specific form of device herein disclosed:

I claim as my invention:

An easel for a display panel or'the like, comprising a metal platehaving a centrally disposed tongue connected to the surroundbending thetree portion thereof outwardly to form a supporting leg.

Signed at Chicago, 111. this 17th day 01 August, 1927.

' HARRY M. MOSES.

